The estimated cost of raining a child in Kenya is Ksh 3 million. This is the amount you will spend in feeding, educating, clothing, housing, healthcare and other basic necessities. We can further break down the cost of each requirement.
Education costs
Primary education is cheap, one can spend less than Ksh 300,000 to educate a child throughout their primary education. The main challenge comes when the child joins secondary education. Since most children join boarding schools, we estimate that the average cost per year is Ksh 90,000, that’s the cost of books, school fees, uniforms and other requirements. In total, you’ll spend Ksh 300,000 to Ksh 500,000 to educate a child from Form 1 to Form 4.
Upon completing form 4 we assume the child joins university. The average annual cost of educating a child in the university for one year is Ksh 200,00. It takes average of 4 years for a child to complete university education. You need an average of Ksh 1 million to educate a child throughout university.
After college, the child is capable of living independent life.
Healthcare costs
If the child does not suffer from terminal or chronic ailment, then healthcare costs will be affordable. But you need to put aside Ksh500,000 to Ksh1 million for healthcare for the 18 years a child will be under your care.
Clothing, food and other basic necessities
Clothing, food and other basic necessities will take Ksh 1 million to Ksh2 million for 18 years. A child must eat 2-5 times a day, that’s a basic necessity. Assuming you’ll spend Ksh 200 on them daily, in a month you’ll spend Ksh 6,000. For one year, you’ll spend Ksh 72,000 to Ksh100,000. For 18 years, you have to be ready to spend over Ksh 1.5 million.
In summary, the minimum amount you’ll spend to raise a child in Kenya is Ksh3 million.
